Linked Questions
15 questions linked to/from What is the ISS drag?
16
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Why don't we put an EmDrive in space?
Once again the impossible drive is in the forefront of public news.
But thus far, I am still unimpressed. NASA seems to have thrown a lot of resources, to test the viability of the EmDrive. But I am ...
- 848
16
votes
5
answers
9k
views
Where can I find data for Atmospheric density vs. altitude?
I'm looking for information on atmospheric density in Earth orbit. All the atmospheric density tables and graphs I've found go no higher than 100 km. Definitions like the US Standard Atmosphere don't ...
- 128k
8
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What is the density of the earth's atmosphere at an altitude of four hundred kilometers?
What is the density of the earth's atmosphere at an altitude of four hundred kilometers? I want to use it to calculate the drag on something in orbit near the ISS.
The Jacchia Reference Atmosphere is ...
17
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What caused the ISS's sudden loss of altitude in January 2015?
This image from Heavens Above that @PearsonArtPhoto links to in this answer shows the orbital altitude of the International Space Station:
In general, the ISS altitude decreases gradually with time ...
- 2,720
5
votes
3
answers
428
views
Is there any application for very low thrust engines within atmosphere?
Is there any (current, or planned, or hypothesized) practical application for engines of low thrust - like, below 40N - in the atmosphere?
I'm asking this in relation to the Non-vacuum ion propulsion ...
- 55.1k
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How big are the tidal accelerations within the ISS?
This question asks about placing an object at rest in the International Space Station. But the ISS is a large object, large enough that gravity will vary across it and cause tidal forces that can ...
- 12.7k
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How hard does atmospheric drag push on the ISS? Is it more than one pound?
A comment under this question has me thinking; with it's huge main structure and giant solar panels the ISS presents a very large cross-section to Earth's rarified atmosphere at 400 km altitude. So ...
- 149k
10
votes
2
answers
507
views
Garbage powered reboosting module for low Earth orbiting space stations
Instead of dumping massive garbage packs once in a while, using a robotic arm, could some sort of garbage canon eject the same mass in small pieces, at higher velocity, so that it contributes to ...
user19132
6
votes
1
answer
368
views
Could the International Space Station be fitted with solar sails?
How much solar sail and vane surface area would be needed to replace the boosts needed to keep the ISS in orbit? Could this be done at a higher orbit minimizing atmospheric drag?
What is the closest ...
- 1
6
votes
4
answers
395
views
Deorbit ISS vs. Preserve ISS as raw materials for ISM?
Recent news:
NASA Seeks Proposals from US Industry for Station Deorbit Spacecraft (ISS)
NASA has released a request for proposal from U.S. industry for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle (USDV), a spacecraft ...
- 161
4
votes
1
answer
366
views
What orbit-raising propulsion system will Tiangong use, and how does it differ from that of the ISS in terms of performance and technology?
The new Wall Street Journal video China's Answer to the Aging International Space Station: The Tech Behind Tiangong | WSJ emphasizes after 03:26 that Tiangong's ...
- 149k
5
votes
1
answer
250
views
Would ISS raise up with the help of the self-powered ion thrusters?
The solar arrays provide about 100 kW of power, so we can put the two HiPEP thusters providing 1 N (1000 mN) power combined, with the specific impulse as high as 6000–9000. Such an acceleration force ...
- 2,035
5
votes
0
answers
522
views
What are the disturbing torques on the ISS?
What are the orders of magnitude of disturbing torques on the ISS itself, preferably split into the following categories, but any numbers (with source) will be useful:
Gravity gradient
Magnetic
Solar ...
- 327
3
votes
1
answer
171
views
What is the acceleration in an orbit decaying due to air resistance relative to one not decaying?
This answer to Is there an upper limit for the internal size of space stations? has this paragraph:
Finally, if you are stuck ["stranded" in the middle of a room in a space station filled ...
5
votes
0
answers
193
views
Does the ISS currently use "night glider mode" as part of its solar array positioning plan?
I've seen several references on the site to a mode of ISS solar array position management called "night glider" where the solar arrays are turned to minimize drag when the ISS is on the ...
- 184k